As rather an outsider of PvP that only occasionally dabbled in it in the later stages of WoW (Shadowlands, Dragonflight) and not as intense, I came across a couple of focal points of friction that could be smoothed to improve the initiation of new players into PvP as a whole and make the experience for veteran players better as well by them not having to rely on addons as much anymore.
The introduction will be followed up by 3 points and a benefit analysis to achieve prior stated goals:
- Give players in arena (and maybe in battlegrounds) intention markers in the shape of color coded arrow projections on the ground between characters targeting one another, depending on their buff/action state, with differing opacity depending on how far or close the target is (for casters if in cast range full opacity and for melees when in melee/ability range with options to change and toggle it on and off depending on personal preferences)
- Blue arrow for a crowd control cast
- Red arrow for targeting with (an) offensive buff(s) active
- (Maybe purple for neutral, no cc, no offensive buffs running)
- Green arrow for healing action
- Yellow arrow for interrupts but probably would never been used since most interrupts if not all are instant
- Colorcoding according with intention markers for usable skills above the enemies nameplate/health bar:
- Crowd control abilities, blue outline
- Offensive cooldowns red outline
- Healing cooldowns green outline
- Interrupt abilities yellow outline
- Reworking diminishing return mechanics for cc and/or making them more easily available
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possibly dismiss different classes of cc, bundle them all up, decrease severity of dr accordingly
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show different schools of dr as cd above enemy nameplates with easy to recognize and distinguish dr schools and teach it to new players in your strengthening the pyramid efforts
Benefits:
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Easier navigation and noticing of player positions inside arena or possibly battlegrounds. You could quickly and easily spot and counteract a healer or ranged class, peeking forth from behind a pillar in an arena, trying to cc, even when you currently don’t have them on screen, without first having to see the cast in the arena frames, then have to look and locate your interrupt target.
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Easier and more intuitive gameplay since most information will be readily available by colorcoding and intensitity. If you combine it with readily available cooldown timers for the differently colored outlined abilities anchored to the nameplates, it would massively simplify information absorbtion and evaluation by players whilst leaving enough room to fully master it and strategize around the right cc chains, counterplays in higher MMR.
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In my mind there is no question that the diminishing return mechanic is way too obscured in the game and needs to be more prominent since it’s such an integral part to being successful in PVP, but changing it might prove too hard. increasing the visibility/playerrecognition and understanding shouldn’t be.
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All in all these changes should provide massively simplified access to the world of PvP and getting the hang of it and how to counteract different situations, abilities etc whilst not dumbing the game down or pruning abilities to do so. The option to toggle anything on and off will leave veteran players to their devices whilst giving new entry players a leg up to quicker catch up and learn vital mechanics without feeling stranded and left helpless.
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The basics will be easier to teach and easier to learn by doing on the get go, which should result in a healthy grow of the WoW-PvP Community.
I hope this helps and reaches the right people, feel free to give your input, seasoned veterans as well as new players that already gathered first experiences in PvP. Your input on this matter will be equally valued!